Manama: Qatar has voiced reservations about a communiqué issued earlier this week confirming unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said Sunday night.
“This reflects how the aim of enhancing relations between the GCC countries has receded in priorities of the state of Qatar’s policy,” the minister, according to the official Bahraini news agency.
On Thursday, the GCC leaders gathered for a crisis summit called by Saudi Arabia in the holy city of Makkah. Qatari sent its prime minister to attend the summit and two others for Arab and Islamic leaders.
“Qatar’s participation was weak and ineffective. It did not suit in any way the importance of these summits, their serious circumstances and their ultimate aims of preserving joint national security and confronting the challenges threatening the Arab and Islamic countries,” the Bahraini minister said.
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke off diplomatic and transportation links with Qatar over its support for extremist groups.
The quartet has set several conditions to mend ties with Qatar, including the emirate’s severance of links with militant and terror groups.
Doha has refused the conditions, saying they violate its sovereignty.
Minister Khaled blamed Qatar for prolonging the crisis.
“Qatar’s non-response with the fair demands made by our countries has led to the prolongation of its crisis. We have no interest in prolonging the Qatar crisis, but it has no wish yet in solution. This matter is never to the benefit of the Qatari people who will remain an indivisible part of the Gulf community,” he said.
